Slaying fictional monsters this November

You know what's more terrifying than Halloween?

National Novel Writing Month, or otherwise affectionately known as NaNoWriMo, NANO for short. If you're not in the know about this annual torture challenge, it's where writers from all over the world attempt 50,000 words before the November 30 deadline.

We're among those lunatics scribes.

And to honor NANO, or perhaps just give us a fighting chance, we're going to focus on slaying monsters of the fictional kind. YOU SHOULD TOO!

Most-Wanted Monsters is going dark for November. No tweets. No blog posts.

But we'll catch you on the flip side - where we can all tally up our undeads and see how many of the beasties remain on our hit list.

Happy Halloween, and for all of you courageous NANO writers, get out there and kill it.

Monster Monday: The Crossroads

Pop culture TV shows like Supernatural, currently in its 7^th season, and films like Crossroads (1986), starring Ralph Macchio focus on the mythology suggesting humans barter their souls with crossroads demons for wealth, talent, fame or whatever their heart's desire. However, there is plenty of ghostly lore surrounding crossroads as well.

Back in the day, crossroads were where villages intersected, forging the belief that the spirit realm and our world also collided here. Murderers were put to death and then buried at crossroads, as were suicide victims denied burial in consecrated ground. These restless souls are said to haunt crossroads, so beware! Crossroads are also thought to be places of great magic and power - the go-to location for complex spells.

Survival tip: German lore says if you’re being chased by a demon, lead it to a crossroads where it will be sent back to its world with a shriek of terror. Of course, then you’ll have to out wit any crossroad ghosts that might be lingering.

Speaking of spirits, don’t forget to put your ghosthunting skills to the test and follow the Spirited anthology launch contest on Twitter: @Spirited13

And for a bevy of crossroads goodness, follow the Crossroads Blog Tour (@TheCrossroadsBT on Twitter) to win SWAG, ARCs and meet 15 of today’s hottest paranormal young adult authors.

Most-Wanted Monsters: Wem Fire Ghost

In honor of Leap Books' October 31, 2011 release of Spirited, Most-Wanted Monsters is dedicating October to all things ghostly.

November 19, 1995 - Shropshire, UK
While firefighters battled a giant blaze of the Wem Town Hall, a local man snapped pictures of the fire from across the street.

When he developed the film days later, he was shocked to find an image of a young girl emerge from the smoky haze. No one remembers seeing the child on the night of the fire - and no bodies were recovered from the blaze.

Town folk believe the image is that of Jane Chum, a 14-year-old girl whose accidental spark spread into a fire that destroyed the whole town.

The photograph was reputed to be fake, until inspected by Dr. Vernon Harrison, past president of the Royal Photography Society who stated, "The negative is a straight-forward black and white work and shows no sign of being tampered with."

Indeed, the infamous picture remains one of what is believed to be the best examples of genuine ghost photography.

Survival Tip: Though the locals fully embraced this ghost story, even changing the welcome sign to read Ghost Town, Jane Chum isn't known as a haunting trouble-maker. Stick to the outskirts of the hall and you should be just fine.

Monster Monday: The House of the Seven Gables

In honor of Halloween and the upcoming launch of theSPIRITED anthology by Leap Books, Most-Wanted Monsters is dedicating the monthof October to all things ghostly. From haunted castles, we bring you to one of the most haunted houses in the United States. The House of the Seven Gables, built in 1668 and resting along the harbor in Salem, Massachusetts, was the inspiration for the famous Nathaniel Hawthorne gothic novel of the same name. Books, spirits and witches – of course we had to share our intel on this historic home with you.

Hawthorne’s ancestors held key roles in the Salem Witch Trials. His great, great grandfather mercilessly sentenced many people to death for practicing witchcraft. The monsters Hawthorne faced were from his family’s ominous past – evil, greed, revenge. The house was once owned by his cousin, Susanna Ingersol, it is her spirit sighted the most in the house and drifting through the gardens. The spirit of Hawthorne’s son, Julian, is said to play in the upper levels. Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, secret rooms and staircases within the house are said to be walked by slaves seeking their freedom.

Visitors report sightings and photographs of The House of the Seven Gables’ spirits can be found on numerous websites.

Survival Tip: If you visit The House of the Seven Gables and encounter young Julian in the attic, be sure to leave a toy for him to play with…then RUN before he decides to make you his new plaything.

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Looking for ghosts this Halloween? We’d bet you’d find them at the House of the Seven Gables.

And while you’re at it, leap on over to Leap Books or Bridge Social Media for a chance to win a copy of SPIRITED, an anthology filled with hauntingly good stories by chilling talent pool of paranormal young adult authors.

Monster Monday: Leap Castle

In honor of Halloween and the upcoming launch of theSPIRITED anthology by Leap Books, Most-Wanted Monsters is dedicating the monthof October to all things ghostly.

Starting with Leap Castle in Ireland, because really, all ofthose specters gotta hang out somewhere, right?

Apparently more than a couple spirits make their home atLeap Castle. Considered one of the most haunted houses in the world – and mostcertainly Europe – the castle features a gruesome oubliette. Hundreds of peopleare rumored to have met their death in this dungeon; if you didn’t impaleyourself on the spiked floor, you would succumb to the powerful stench of decayand lack of food. Lovely.

How many people are we talking? Three cartloads of boneswere trucked out of the oubliette when it was discovered.

There have been numerous reports of specter sightings, andeven attacks. The most popular, though, is the story of an Elemental, a type ofmystical spirit that attaches itself to one particular haunting. The LeapCastle Elemental is described as a grey sheep-like humanoid with a decayingface.

Looking for ghosts this Halloween? We’d bet you’d find themat Leap.

And while you’re at it, leap on over to Leap Books or Bridge Social Media for a chance to win a copy of SPIRITED, an anthology filled withhauntingly good stories by chilling talent pool of paranormal young adultauthors.